Automatic tension device for web-rolls.



H. M. BARBER.

AUTOMATIC TENSION DEVICE FOR WEB ROLLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1913.

1,200,574. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1- negses lag fi itgr: t. f U I i 640/ :2 Q.

H. M. BARBER.

AUTOMATIC TENSION DEVICE FOR WEB ROLLS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 8. 1913.

1 00,574. Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. M. BARBER.

AUTOMATIC TENSlON DEVICE FOR WEB ROLLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1913. 1,200,574. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD M. BARBER, OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO C. B. COTTRELL & SONS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF 'IDELAHAIRE.

AUTOMATIC TENSION DEVICE FOR WEB-ROLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.-

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD M. BARBER, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Stonington, in the countyof New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Automatic Tension Devices for Veb-Rolls, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The objectof this invention is to provide novel 11162111311601 graduallyreducing the retarding frictionupon a web roll as the roll diminishes/indiameter, said means being arranged to act in successive steps and beingcontrolled by} the diameter of the roll.

A further} object is to provide means under the control of the rollunwinding mechanism for automatically removing the retarding action ofthe tension device after.

the unwinding mechanism has been stopped.

The invention is particularly directed to a device for use in connectionwith the web roll of a printing press.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 represents the device in topplan, only so much of a web roll and its support being shown as willgive a clear understanding of the relative positions and arrangement ofthe parts, Fig. 2 represents aview of the same in side elevation,certain of the parts being shown in section-to more clearly illustratethe parts within the same, Fig. 3 represents a view in end elevation ofthe parts, Fig. 4 is a detail view in side elevation, partly in section,showing the tension device in a position which it assumes when the webbroll is unwound, Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the means forcontrolling the movement of the brake lever fulcrum nuts, the partsbeing shown in one position, and Fig. 6 is a similar view with the partsshown in another position.

The frame is denoted by 1, which frame forms a bearing support for theshaft 2 of the web roll 3. The web is led from the web roll 3 to anysuitable unwinding mechanism, such,for instance, as a (printing press.

The fluid pressure actuate brake is constructed, arranged and operatedas follows A brake drum 4 is fixed to the shaft 2 of the web roll.Oppositely arranged brake lever connected to an outward extension 22 ofa piston 23 by compensating hinge plates 24. This piston 23 works in acylinder 23* and 1s provided with a piston rod 25 which extends throughthe inner end of the cylinder 23*. A spring 26, interposed between theinner end of the cylinder 23* and a collar 27, on the piston rod 25,serves to normally hold the piston 23 at the limit of its inwardmovement, and the brake shoes 5 and 6 released from their engagment withthe drum 4 on the web roll shaft 2.

Fluid pressure" is supplied'to the cylinder 23* back of the piston 23through a pipe 28 leading from a suitable source of fluid pressuresupply, such as a reservoir 29, which pipe 28 has a valve 30 thereinopened and closed by a governor 31, which governor is under the controlof a web roll unwinding mechanism, in the present instance through theshaft 32 leading to the printing press, which shaft has a gearedconnection 33, 34, with the vertical shaft 35. This shaft 35 has ageared connection 35*, 35**, with the governor 31. The parts are soarranged that when the governor is at rest the valve 30 will closecommunication from the reservoir 29 to the cylinder 23* and will opencommunication from the cylinder 23* to external atmosphere for releasingthe pressure upon the back of the piston 23. When the governor is underspeed the valve 30 will open communication from the reservoir to thecylinder 23* and will close communication between the cylinder 23* andexternal atmosphere.

The fulcrum nuts 11 and 12 are gradually moved toward each other as thediameter of the web-therefrom,

of the web roll 3. A spring 39 connecting the arm 36 with the main frameserves to hold the roller 38 pressed against the web roll. The shaft 37has a geared connection tinuously in one .direction.

A rotary shaft 48 is mounted in suitable bearings 49, 50, and isprovided with a geared connection 51, 52, with the shaft 15, whichcarries the fulcrum nuts 11 and 12 of the brake levers. This shaft 48has fixed thereto a ratchet 53. A pawl 54 is carried by an escapementlever 55 loosely mounted on the shaft 48, which escapement lever isprovided with a finger 56 arranged in alinement with the notches 47 inthe escapement segment 46 and which is adapted to drop through saidnotches when opposite the same to permit a greater swinging movement ofsaid lever 55. A rock lever 57 is also loosely mounted on the shaft 48adjacent to the lever 55, which rock lever 57 is operated through a rod58 from an eccentric 59 on the shaft 32.

The escapement lever 55 is provided with a laterally extended pin 60projecting into the path of the lever 57 and so arranged that when thefinger 56 of the escapement lever 55 is held raised between the notches47, the lever 57 will not engage the said pin. When the finger 56 isopposite one of the notches 47, the escapement lever 55 will be raisedevery upward movement of the lever 57 by its engagement with the pin 60and thus cause the pawl 54 by its engagement with the ratchet 53 torotate the shaft 48 a short distance, such distance being controlled bythe width of the notch 47. This rotary movement of the shaft 48 will, inturn, impart a rotary movement to the shaft 15 thus drawing the fulcrumnuts of the brake levers slightly toward each other and lesseningthereby the effect of the pressure fluid actuated piston upon the brakeshoes 5 and 6. The notches 47 are, preferably graduated in width growinggradually wider toward the rear end of the segment so as to give thedesired amount of movement to the shaft 48 to insure the proper step bystep reduction of the frictional resistance of the brake shoes 5 and 6upon the drum 4 of the web roll. By referring to the position of thetoggle lever in Fig. 2 and its position in Fig. 4, it will be seen thatwith a constant fluid pressure the effect on the brake levers is muchless when the web roll is unwound. When the press or other web unwindingmechanism is stopped, the stopping of the governor will release thefluid pressure upon'the back of the piston 23 and the brake shoes 5 and6 will be released from their engagement with the drum 4, by the actionof the spring 26 upon the piston rod 25. The compensating hinge plates24 interposed between the piston 23 and the toggle lever, will insure aneven adjustment of the pressure by both of the brake shoes 5 and 6.

The shaft 48 may be provided with a handle 61 for ermitting the manualadjustment of the fulcrum nuts 11 and 12 for insuring the properfrictional engagement of the brake shoes 5 and 6 with the web roll drum4.

From the above description it will be seen that I am enabled to obtainan automatic seen that this gradual decreasing of the friction isobtained in successive steps, the

time of which steps may be gradually increased as the roll growssmaller. It will also be seen that the governor for the brake actuatingfluid serves as a means for releasing the brake when the unwindingmechanism is stopped and for applying the brake after the unwindingmechanism has been started and has reached a predetermined speed. Thispermits the web roll to be easily started in its unwinding move mentbefore the brake is applied for retarding the unwinding movementthereof.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake and means controlled by the decreasing diameter of theroll for reducing the frictional resistance of the brake to theunwinding of the roll.

2. An automatic tension for web rolls including a. brake, meanscontrolled by the decreasing diameter of the roll for reducing thefrictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll, andmeans adapted to be controlled by a roll unwinding mechanism forreleasing and applying the brake.

3. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake, means controlled by the decreasing diameter of the rollfor reducing the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding ofthe roll and means adapted to be controlled by a roll unwindingmechanism for releas ing and applying the brake actuating fluid.

4. An automatic tension for web rolls including a brake comprising twobrake levers and means controlled by the decreasing diameter of the rollfor moving the levers as a whole toward each other to reduce thefrictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll.

1 5. An automatic tension for web rolls. including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers and means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the levers bodily toward eachother to reduce the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwindingof the roll.

6. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein connected to the brake levers and means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the levers bodily toward eachother to reduce the frictional resistance of the brake to theunwinding'of the roll.

7. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein, a toggle lever connecting the brake levers and piston and meanscontrolled by the decreasing diameter of the roll for moving the leversbodily toward each other to reduce the frictional resistance of thebrake to the unwinding of the roll.

8. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the levers bodily toward eachother to reduce the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwindingof the roll and means adapted to be controlled by a roll unwindingmechanism for releasing and applying the brake actuating fluid.

9. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein connected to the brake levers, means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the levers bodily toward eachother to reduce the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwindingof the roll and means adapted to be controlled by a roll unwinding mechanism for releasing and applying the brake actuating fluid.

10. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein, atoggle lever connecting the brake levers and piston, meanscontrolled by the decreasing diameter of the roll for moving the leversbodily toward each other to reduce the frictional resistance of thebrake to the unwinding of the roll and means adapted to be controlled bya roll unwinding mechanism for releasing and applying the brakeactuating fluid.

11. An automatic tension for web rolls including a brake comprising abrake lever and means controlled by the decreasing diameter of the rollfor moving the lever as a .whole in a direction to reduce the frictionalresistance of the brake to the unwind ing of the roll.

12. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising a brake lever and means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the lever in a direction toreduce the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of theroll.

13. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising a brake lever, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein connected to the brake lever and means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the lever in a direction toreduce the frictional resistanfie of the brake to the unwinding of thero 14. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising a brake lever, means controlled by thedecreasing diameter of the roll for moving the lever in a direction toreduce the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of theroll, and means adapted to be controlled by a'roll unwinding mechanismfor releasing and applying the brake actuating fluid.

15. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising a brake lever, a cylinder, a piston workingtherein connected to the brake lever, means controlled by the decreasingdiameter of the roll for moving the lever in a direction to reduce thefrictlonal resistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll andmeans adapted to be controlled by a roll unwinding mechanism forreleasing and applying the brake actuating fluid.

16. An automatic tension for web rolls including a brake comprising twobrake levers, an oppositely threaded screw, fulcrum nuts for the leverscarried thereby and an escapement device controlled by the decreasingdiameter of the roll for causing the brake lever fulcrum nuts to bemoved toward each other for reducing the frictional resistance of thebrake to the unwinding of the roll.

17 An automatic tension for web rolls including a brake comprising twobrake levers, an oppositely threaded screw, fulcrum nuts for the leverscarried thereby, and an escapement device controlled by the decreas ingdiameter of the roll for causing the brake lever fulcrum nuts to bemoved, step by step, toward each other for reducing the frictionalresistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll, in successivesteps.

18. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two brake levers, an oppositely threadedscrew, fulcrum nuts for the levers carried thereby, and an escapementdevice controlled by the decreasing diameter of the roll for causing thebrake lever fulcrum nuts to be moved toward each other for reducing thefrictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll.

19. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake comprising two .brake levers, an oppositely threadedscrew. fulcrum nuts for the levers carried thereby, an escapement deviceinterposed between said screw andthe shaft of a roll unwinding mechanismand controlled by the decreasing diameter of the roll for causing thebrake lever fulcrum nuts to be moved toward each other for reducing thefrictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding of the roll, andmeans controlled by said shaft for releasing and applying the brakeactuating fluid.

20. An automatic tension for Web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake, means controlled by the decreasing diameter of the rollfor reducing the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding ofthe roll, and means adapted to be controlled by a roll unwindingmechanism for releasing the brake actuating pressure fluid when theunwinding mechanism stops and for applying the brake actuating pressurefluid after the unwinding mechanism has been started and has reached apredetermined speed.

21. An automatic tension for web rolls including a fluid pressureoperated brake, means controlled-by the decreasing diameter of the rollfor reducing the frictional resistance of the brake to the unwinding ofthe roll, in successive steps, and means adapted to be controlled by aroll unwinding mechanism for releasing the brake actuating pressurefluid when the unwinding mechanism stops and for applying the brakeactuating pressure fluid after the unwinding mechanism has been startedand has reached a predetermined speed.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two witnesses, this twentyseventh day of October,1913.

HOWARD M. BARBER. Witnesses:

A. R. STILLMAN, E. M. GRANT.

